Latest news with #WelwynGardenCity
The Sun
10-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
High street giant to shut UK store in DAYS after closing 11 as huge shake-up announced
A HIGH street giant is set to shutter a popular UK store in days after closing 11 across the country. New Look shoppers were devastated to learn their local branch will be pulling the shutters down. 1 The ill-fated site, located within the Howard Centre, in Welwyn Garden City, is set to wave goodbye imminently. Reacting to the news, one fan wrote: "The Town Centre is now a ghost town." "Feel for those losing their jobs," penned another. "I'm surprised it's lasted this long since everything else has shut down……. what will become of the town?" Agreed a third. This comes after New Look shoppers were warned of a further 12 closures as the retailer "could be auctioned off". In another blow to the high street, the company will shutter a handful of sites across the UK this year. The firm previously warned it would close nearly 100 stores ahead of National Insurance hikes which came into place in April. Approximately a quarter of the retailer's 364 stores are at risk when their leases expire. The brand already closed a site in Birmingham on June 8 and another store in Devizes, Wiltshire closed last month. The brand has already closed down eight stores across the UK since the start of the year, launching huge closing down sales to hep shift stock. Costa Coffee Shuts Whitstable Branch: What Shop Closures Mean for UK High Streets That includes a branch in Bexleyheath, which launched a 70% clearance sale before it closed for good on April 19. It's Gateshead, Tyne and Wear closed o n March 9 with items being sold just £1 before it shut for good. You can check out the full list of New Look closures here: New Look, Neath, Wales – closing August 6 New Look, Hamilton, Scotland – closed July 1 New Look, Birmingham, Northfield shopping centre – closed June 8 New Look, Willow Place, Corby – closed June 1 New Look Bexleyheath, London, closed April 19 New Look, Preston, closed March 20 New Look, Valley Retail World in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear – closed March 9 St Austell branch in Cornwall – closed March 4 New Look, Porth, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales – closed February 22 New Look, Wickford, Essex – closed January 24 New Look, Carillon Court Shopping Centre Loughborough, closed January 21. New Look, Devizes, Wiltshire – closed In February, New Look also exited the Republic of Ireland which resulted in the closure of 26 stores. At the time, the company said: "New Look's Irish operation has struggled for some years, impacted by a range of factors including supply-chain and in-market costs, and squeezed consumer spending". It follows reports the high street stalwart had hired investment bankers to explore a strategic review of the business. According to Sky News, owners Alcentra and Brait, are talking to advisers in a move which could trigger an auction of the business. It means nothing will change for customers during this process and it's important to note that the company is not going bust. A New Look spokesperson said: 'We do not comment on rumour and speculation. "Management are focused on running the company and executing the strategy for long-term growth. " "The company is trading well and has supportive shareholders'. In April, it was reported the investors were pouring £30million of fresh equity into the business to help move it online. Last year, the retailer reported sales of £769million. In 2023, New Look underwent a £100m refinancing deal with Blazehill Capital and Wells Fargo. MORE RETAIL TROUBLE New Look is not the only retailer to feel the pain of rising rents and customers have less money to spend at the till. River Island will close 33 of its 230 stores, pending approval. The shops earmarked for closure will stay open until January 2026 to make the most of peak trading. The closures come as River Island carries out a major restructuring of its store estate. Elsewhere, Claire's is mulling a sale of the business leaving question marks over the future of nearly 300 stores in the UK. Hobbycraft and The Original Factory Shop are also shutting branches as part of restructuring efforts. RETAIL PAIN IN 2025 The British Retail Consortium has predicted that the Treasury's hike to employer NICs will cost the retail sector £2.3billion. Research by the British Chambers of Commerce shows that more than half of companies plan to raise prices by early April. A survey of more than 4,800 firms found that 55% expect prices to increase in the next three months, up from 39% in a similar poll conducted in the latter half of 2024. Three-quarters of companies cited the cost of employing people as their primary financial pressure. The Centre for Retail Research (CRR) has also warned that around 17,350 retail sites are expected to shut down this year. It comes on the back of a tough 2024 when 13,000 shops closed their doors for good, already a 28% increase on the previous year. Professor Joshua Bamfield, director of the CRR said: "The results for 2024 show that although the outcomes for store closures overall were not as poor as in either 2020 or 2022, they are still disconcerting, with worse set to come in 2025." Professor Bamfield has also warned of a bleak outlook for 2025, predicting that as many as 202,000 jobs could be lost in the sector. "By increasing both the costs of running stores and the costs on each consumer's household it is highly likely that we will see retail job losses eclipse the height of the pandemic in 2020."
BBC News
28-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Oaklands College opens 'hands-on' hospital for health students
A college has unveiled a hospital ward and maternity suite for its students to hone their health care skills. The purpose-built centre, designed to provide "hands-on experience in real-world healthcare environments", is part of Oaklands College's campus in Welwyn Garden City, studying health and social care from Level 1 through to Level 3 - the equivalent to an advanced apprenticeship or an A-level - will be able to use the "cutting-edge" Slade, principal and CEO of Oaklands College, said the new clinic could help train students to meet the demand for more health and social care workers. "Health and social care remains one of the UK's most critical and rapidly expanding industries," he said."Projections also suggest an additional 540,000 care roles will be needed by 2040 to meet growing demand."There's a clear need for a trained, competent, and compassionate workforce ready to meet the complex health needs of communities, and Oaklands College intends to be at the forefront of this training." The facility will also be used by students with an interest in studying midwifery at principal Ana Guimaraes said: "We are committed to providing high-quality, career-focused education that responds to the needs of the industry." Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Telegraph
16-05-2025
- General
- Telegraph
The 32-year battle to fix one school's windows
'The heat in that school is terrible!' says 43-year-old design director Razvan Dumitrescu outside the gates of Templewood Primary School in Welwyn Garden City. His seven-year-old son, Nathan, is one of many children I see clutching a handheld electric fan as he heads towards his classroom. Teachers describe conditions in the room where he's expected to study today as 'often unbearable, unacceptable, sweltering' in summer. 'In winter,' says Dumitrescu, 'it gets so cold that children regularly receive lessons togged up in hats, gloves and coats.' The reason? Single-pane glazing throughout the Hertfordshire county council's Grade II* listed 1950s building (the asterisk is important – it introduces an extra level of protection which means the owner must consult Historic England over any proposed changes). Despite three decades of campaigning for double glazing from a long line of head teachers, Historic England has insisted that features of the original, award-winning architecture must be preserved. That includes the single-glazed doors and windows, which mean the school now has to spend £45,000 a year on heating a thermally inefficient building. The school gets no financial support for these exorbitant bills and as energy prices rise, head teacher Katherine Martindill has been forced to lose staff members to cover costs. Last March, yet another planning application was nixed because of Historic England's inability to support the proposals (when approached by The Telegraph, Historic England said that while it did not formally object to the proposals, it did express concerns), which was finally overturned by Welwyn Hatfield borough council in September (although replacement windows still need to meet certain heritage requirements). 'But that planning permission expires in September 2027,' says Martindill. 'Work has to start in the next two years and five months or we're back to square one.' She's worried that Hertfordshire county council (which has to pay for any building work) is dragging its feet 'so slowly' that – forgive the pun – the window will close before the issues can be resolved. A spokesman for Hertfordshire county council explained the delay by saying: 'Following Welwyn Hatfield borough council's decision to permit Templewood School's planning application for the replacement of windows at the school, we are working through a number of complex planning conditions that need to be discharged before the scheme can progress. 'Once the planning conditions have been discharged, we will be able to establish the actual cost of replacing the windows. A decision on funding would then need to be considered alongside funding bids from other schools, and would need to be approved by the Schools Forum.' The absurdity of the situation becomes obvious as Martindill shows me around the school. In reception, I see the building's energy efficiency rating certificate scores a dire D (despite a new boiler and LED lighting throughout). The glass walls, doors and open-plan design were created to flood the single-storey space with light and offer serene views of the gorgeous spring greens of the school's ancient surrounding woodland. Research repeatedly shows that engagement with nature boosts academic performance and promotes good mental and physical health – but today, the blinds are pulled down to reduce temperatures, making the place dark and dingy. In the gloomy reception classroom for four- to five-year-old pupils, teacher Beni Choudhry is already regretting the decision to wear a sundress made of synthetic fabric. She has altered the day's learning plan to ensure the most important lessons take place before lunch, 'because the children are able to stay calmer and cooler in the morning. After running around in the playground at lunchtime – which is important – they really struggle to cool down and concentrate. Don't we all? Nobody can think clearly when they're uncomfortable.' Choudhry is bracing for an afternoon of 'sweaty fidgeting' and students rendered drowsy by the dark and heat. She's got a sign reminding the children to drink regularly ready to roll on her overhead projector. 'We've had to send pupils home on summer days in the past,' says Martindill. 'Parents were concerned about their children becoming overheated. We made it optional for working parents. But most parents took their children home. I don't blame them.' Hillary Skoczylas, the school's chair of governors (who has two children at the school), is incredibly frustrated. She thinks the building's design 'was beautiful, very forward-thinking for its time – all done with the children in mind'. She suspects the original architect, AW Cleeve Barr, would have been all in favour of modernising the glazing. During the Second World War, Barr was co-opted into RAF intelligence after Hitler invaded the USSR and gave up a lucrative banking career for architecture after becoming a Communist. He wanted the next generation to grow up in light, airy, practical spaces unlike the damp, dark and more ornate Victorian school houses of his own youth. Critics have noted that although Templewood's architectural style is technically 'Brutalist', Barr's work was that of a pioneering 'humanist'. 'C'est jolie!' pronounced Le Corbusier. Historic England's 1993 listing of the school as Grade II* notes the use of a steel frame and metal-framed Crittall strip windows and doors (which even in the early 1990s were in need of maintenance). This led to the building being hailed as one of 16 'Structural Steel Classics 1906-1986' in a 'project organised by British Steel to commemorate 80 years of multi-storey construction'. Today, the celebrated steel beams across the ceilings still look stunning. But the steel toilet cubicles have had to be coated with plastic because they had become so battered and smelly that some children were refusing to go into them. The windows and doors are battered and tatty. An average of five to six get broken each year, bumping up maintenance costs. Worse still, some of the original doors don't open – far from ideal in the event of a fire (the possibility of which is also increased by the heat). In 2014, emergency work on a flat roof required the replacement of a couple of fan-lights with heritage W20 double-glazed panels. 'So we've already got a few sensible windows on site,' says Skoczylas. She says that another school just 20 minutes away, built as part of the same Hertfordshire county council programme, received a slightly lower Grade II listing, 'which meant they didn't need Historic England's approval for improvements. So they had double glazing fitted 10 years ago.' As she understands it, the reason that Templewood School got the extra star on its listing was 'because of the two original murals, depicting scenes from Russian fairy tales by Pat Tew'. These are charming and would not be impacted by the installation of double glazing. They also require regular maintenance. Martindill points out the metal guard rails screwed into the floor to protect them from damage. 'This is a working school, not a museum,' she sighs. When Martindill took over as head teacher in 2021, she says she 'could see that, financially, we were not in a good position. We had money in the bank but we had a regular in-year deficit. There was an overspend of £130k on staffing so I had to do a staffing restructure, which is never pleasant when you're new. But I've made many savings and having set a deficit budget this year of £70,000, we have managed to end with +£6k. I'm far from frivolous and I've got an email from the local authority telling me they're in awe of what I've achieved. But I really do need to stop wasting money on inefficient heating.' Skoczylas feels that time and money have already been wasted by the council, which has insisted on researching and getting quotes for windows which don't meet the planning conditions. 'That took six months,' she eye-rolls. Martindill shows me some ridiculous sliding windows (fitted on the inside of the original steel) installed as a 'workaround' in her office. 'They don't work well,' she says. 'And they break up the vertical lines of the original design anyway.' Apparently these interior fittings have a lifespan of only 10-15 years compared with the 30-plus years they could expect from double glazing. 'I'm not denying that double-glazing a building like this would be a big, one-time expense… We are looking at around £500,000,' she says. 'But it would lead to long-term savings.' Martindill knows she is one of many head teachers fighting for limited funds. She's keen to stress she doesn't want to be difficult. 'Our school isn't going to fall down. I'm aware there are schools with whole areas they can't even use until building work is done.' She's also aware that she is unlikely to receive grants which are often intended for schools in more deprived areas – houses in the school's leafy AL8 postcode sell for an average of £655,000. 'But we have waited over 30 years for this to happen and I want to work with the council on this. I accept it may have to be done in phases. But we need to get started soon. I don't think I'm being unreasonable.'
BBC News
12-05-2025
- BBC News
Suspected wartime bomb found at Welwyn Garden City supermarket
Explosives experts have been called to a supermarket after a suspected World War Two bomb was Police was called to Morrisons in Welwyn Garden City, at 10:57 are Black Fan Road, along with the fire service and a bomb disposal team, and the area has been cordoned off.A police spokesperson said: "Road closures are also in place and motorists are advised to avoid the area and seek an alternative route." Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Pub fined after boy's allergic reaction to sausage
A pub chain has been fined almost £27,000 after a young boy had an allergic reaction to a sausage. St Albans Magistrates Court heard that the mother of the boy, from Welwyn Garden City, had been assured twice that the sausage did not contain wheat. The Rusty Gun, in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, later confirmed that there was wheat in the food and offered the boy's parents a free meal as an apology. The owners, Innventure, said those who had "let this young man down" had been dismissed or had resigned. The boy, called Ralph, was nine years old at the time and went for a birthday meal at the Rusty Gun in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, with his parents, Lauren and James, in August 2023. The court was told that Lauren asked the pub staff on two occasions whether the sausage chosen by her son contained wheat. Waiting staff checked with the chefs in the kitchen and told Lauren the recipe did not contain wheat. Ralph began to feel unwell after eating just a quarter of the sausage. Back at home, parts of Ralph's body began to swell; he had red hives all over him and had difficulty breathing. He was given steroids and adrenaline at the local hospital before being transferred to Lister Hospital in Stevenage. Lauren said: "It's every parent's worst nightmare watching their child struggle to breathe, and I was thinking the worst. "I will always have a lasting memory of Ralph asking me if he was going to die that night." She said she called the Rusty Gun and asked whether they were sure the sausage contained no wheat. "I was then told 'we made a mistake' and - can you believe it? - I was offered a free meal!" Hertfordshire Trading Standards investigated the incident and charged the pub's owners, Innventure, with two offences under food safety legislation. Innventure pleaded guilty at St Albans Magistrates Court on 6 May and was ordered to pay a total of £26,802.76 in fines and costs. Ralph was awarded £1,000 in compensation. A spokesperson for Innventure said: "Those that let the company and this young man down in August 2023 have been dismissed or have resigned. "We have undertaken a comprehensive review of the allergens processes and procedures operated by the business. New and improved systems are in place to ensure that this never happens again. "We offer and have offered our sincerest apologies to the young man in question." Tanya Ednan-Laperouse OBE, from the Natasha Allergy Research Foundation, said: "We would urge anyone working with food to take food allergies seriously so that all people can eat out safely." Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Call for change at first food allergy conference BBC presenter taken off flight over child's allergy Peanut allergy warning over dips and sandwiches Natasha Allergy Research Foundation Hertfordshire Trading Standards Innventure
